Greenly Garden

Last and first frost dates in Lorca

Spain

In Lorca the last spring frost usually comes around 20 January and the first autumn frost around 15 December, which leaves about 329 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 20 March to 25 August.

Last spring frostaround 20 January
First autumn frostaround 15 December
Frost-free days329 days

Median of 2016–2025 for the 25 km grid cell of the city: the last day at or below 0 °C in spring and the first in autumn (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo). In a cold year a frost can come a week or two later — Greenly warns 48 hours ahead.

When is the last frost in Lorca?

The last frost in Lorca usually comes around 20 January: that is the median of 2016–2025, so in about half of those years the last night at or below 0 °C came later. Hardy crops start before it and frost-tender ones only after it: in the table below arugula can go into open ground from 30 December, while corn waits until 15 February. The first autumn frost follows around 15 December, about 329 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha27 November – 6 September6 January – 16 October27 January – 16 October
Ageratumfrom 2 January—from 20 March
Arugula——sow 30 December – 10 November
Basil18 February – 13 October28 March – 20 November18 April – 20 November
Beet——sow 30 December – 16 October
Bell Pepper27 January – 26 June28 March – 25 August18 April – 25 August
Black-eyed Susanfrom 5 November—from 27 January
Bok Choy2 December – 24 October6 January – 28 November27 January – 28 November
Borage——sow 27 January – 21 October
Broad bean——sow 30 December – 6 September
Broccoli——sow 30 December – 30 August
Brussels Sprouts25 October – 28 July9 December – 11 September30 December – 11 September
Busy Lizziefrom 4 November—from 27 January
Cabbage——sow 30 December – 7 August
Calendula——sow from 30 December
Carrot——sow 30 December – 22 September
Cauliflower28 October – 30 August9 December – 11 October30 December – 11 October
Celeriac21 October – 27 June6 January – 12 September27 January – 12 September
Celery21 October – 7 July6 January – 22 September27 January – 22 September
Celosiafrom 24 Januaryfrom 10 Marchfrom 31 March
Chamomile——sow 30 December – 11 October
Chayote29 October – 20 June25 January – 16 September15 February – 16 September
Chickpea——sow 30 December – 27 August
Chicory14 November – 21 September—30 December – 16 October
Chili Pepper27 January – 2 August28 March – 1 October18 April – 1 October
China asterfrom 4 Februaryfrom 28 Marchfrom 18 April
Chives——sow 30 December – 2 October
Cilantro——sow 30 December – 12 October
Corn——sow 15 February – 27 August
Corn poppy——sow from 30 December
Cosmosfrom 24 Januaryfrom 10 Marchfrom 31 March
Cucumber28 February – 2 September28 March – 30 September18 April – 30 September
Daikon——sow 30 December – 9 October
Delphiniumfrom 11 October—from 30 December
Dill——sow 30 December – 22 October
Edging lobeliafrom 4 November—from 27 January
Eggplant27 January – 26 June28 March – 25 August18 April – 25 August
Florence fennel22 November – 6 September6 January – 21 October27 January – 21 October
Foxglovefrom 23 September—from 30 December
Garden sorrel——sow 30 December – 10 October
Green Beans——sow 31 March – 4 September
Hollyhock——sow from 30 December
Hyssop——sow 30 December – 2 September
Kale——sow 30 December – 4 October
Kiwano26 January – 9 September27 February – 11 October20 March – 11 October
Kohlrabi——sow 30 December – 14 October
Leek30 September – 18 June9 December – 27 August30 December – 27 August
Lemon balm——sow 30 December – 6 October
Lettuce——sow 30 December – 19 October
Lisianthusfrom 13 Septemberfrom 9 Decemberfrom 30 December
Lovage——sow from 30 December
Luffa14 February – 4 July28 March – 15 August18 April – 15 August
Marigoldfrom 25 Novemberfrom 6 Januaryfrom 27 January
Marjoram27 January – 21 September—18 April – 20 November
Melon28 February – 20 August28 March – 17 September18 April – 17 September
Microgreens——sow 31 March – 1 December
Moringa19 February – 26 September15 April – 20 November6 May – 20 November
Moss rosefrom 11 November—from 27 January
Mustard greens——sow 30 December – 31 October
Napa cabbage4 December – 1 October6 January – 3 November27 January – 3 November
Nasturtiumfrom 29 Novemberfrom 6 Januaryfrom 27 January
Okra14 February – 14 September28 March – 26 October18 April – 26 October
Oregano10 October – 11 September9 December – 10 November30 December – 10 November
Pansyfrom 14 Octoberfrom 9 Decemberfrom 30 December
Parsley——sow 30 December – 30 September
Parsnip——sow 30 December – 19 August
Peanut19 February – 10 August28 March – 16 September18 April – 16 September
Peas——sow 30 December – 2 October
Petuniafrom 24 Januaryfrom 28 Marchfrom 18 April
Physalis13 January – 7 August27 February – 21 September20 March – 21 September
Pumpkin14 February – 9 July28 March – 20 August18 April – 20 August
Purple coneflowerfrom 8 October—from 30 December
Radish——sow 30 December – 15 November
Sage21 October – 7 September9 December – 26 October30 December – 26 October
Scarlet sagefrom 6 January—from 20 March
Snapdragonfrom 5 Octoberfrom 9 Decemberfrom 30 December
Soybean——sow 18 April – 26 September
Spinach——sow 30 December – 21 October
Stevia9 January – 29 July27 February – 16 September20 March – 16 September
Stock——sow from 30 December
Sunflower——sow from 31 March
Sweet alyssum——sow from 30 December
Sweet Corn12 January – 21 September3 February – 13 October24 February – 13 October
Sweet peafrom 28 Octoberfrom 9 Decemberfrom 30 December
Sweet William——sow from 30 December
Swiss Chard——sow 30 December – 16 October
Thyme——sow 30 December – 27 August
Tomato6 January – 4 July27 February – 25 August20 March – 25 August
Turnip——sow 30 December – 18 October
Watercress——sow 30 December – 29 October
Watermelon28 February – 8 August28 March – 5 September18 April – 5 September
Zinniafrom 11 Marchfrom 15 Aprilfrom 6 May
Zucchini7 March – 7 September28 March – 28 September18 April – 28 September

Planting out: a week after the last frost once the soil is warm enough for the crop; frost-hardy crops three weeks before it; an unheated greenhouse three weeks earlier. Seedlings are sown so they are ready on that day. Each window starts on the Greenly calendar date and ends on the last day that still leaves the crop’s days to harvest (from its card) before the average first autumn frost, plus six weeks of picking for crops harvested over weeks (tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers, courgettes, pumpkins, watermelons, beans) — our rule; earlier in the window is safer.

When the soil warms up in Lorca

The day the top 7 cm of soil first averages each temperature over a week, median of 2016–2025 (ERA5 via Open-Meteo). The soil reaches 10 °C 7 days after the last spring frost and 15 °C 59 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °Calready in the first week of January—
10 °C27 January7 days later
15 °C20 March59 days later
18 °C18 April88 days later

Frost dates near Lorca

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Elche (15 January) and latest in Murcia (17 January).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Murcia61 km17 January—
Cartagena64 km——
Elche109 km15 January—
Almería115 km——
Alicante130 km——

What to grow at home in winter in Lorca

Frosts in Lorca usually come from about 15 December to about 20 January. These plants have indoor care in their Greenly cards and are harvested quickly, so they can be sown on a windowsill in winter.

Weather in Lorca by month

Average weather in Lorca over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: April–October (20.9–34.1 °C). Months that average 30 °C or more by day: June (30.5 °C), July (34.1 °C) and August (33.6 °C). No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 4 °C. About 361 mm of rain falls in a year, on 55 days; March is the wettest month (66 mm) and July the driest (3 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January15.24284
February175.2134
March18.46.8669
April20.99.1427
May25.312.7325
June30.517.2133
July34.120.131
August33.620.2102
September28.516.8546
October24.512.9385
November18.87.9305
December165.3324

Average of the daily highs and lows, rain per month and days with at least 1 mm (ERA5 via Open-Meteo, the same grid cell as the frost dates).

Planted in autumn

CropWhen to plant
Bearded Irisby 15 November
Crocusby 15 November
Daffodilby 15 November
Garlic1 October – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 15 November
Helleboreby 15 November
Hyacinthby 15 November
Lilyby 15 November
Ornamental onionby 15 November
Peonyby 15 November
Saffronby 15 November
Snowdropby 15 November
Tulipby 15 November
Wild garlicby 15 November

From a month before the first autumn frost, so the roots grow before winter, to the late-planting limit on each crop’s page (about two weeks before the ground freezes, by ten years of weather).